# FreeTextAnnotation Class

> The free text annotation allows a user to place text directly on a PDF page.

- Product: Adobe PDF Library 21
- Language: Modern C++
- Version: 21.4.0
- HTML page: https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/FreeTextAnnotation
- Version index: https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/llms.txt

```cpp
class FreeTextAnnotation : Annotation
```

**Namespace:** `datalogics_interface`

**Inherits from:** [`Annotation`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Annotation.md)

## Description

The free text annotation allows a user to place text directly on a PDF page.

An ordinary text annotation appears in a pop up window, and is attached to an icon; it represents a note added to a PDF file, and can be opened for viewing, or closed. But a free text annotation always appears open on the page. A free text annotation can be included anywhere in a PDF file by specifying the location and the CallOutLine points.

**Uses types:** [`AnnotationFlags`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/enum/AnnotationFlags.md), [`Color`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md), [`Form`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Form.md), [`HorizontalAlignment`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/enum/HorizontalAlignment.md), [`Rect`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/struct/Rect.md)

## Constructors

### FreeTextAnnotation

```cpp
datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::FreeTextAnnotation(Page &page, const Rect &rect, const std::string &default_appearance)
```

*constructor*

**Parameters**

- `page` ([`Page &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Page.md)): The page to which the FreeTextAnnotation is added.
- `rect` ([`const Rect &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/struct/Rect.md)): A rectangle specifying the annotation's bounds, specified in user space coordinates.
- `default_appearance` (`const std::string &`): The default appearance string to be used in formatting the text.

Create a new FreeTextAnnotation at the end of a page's annotation array. To create a FreeTextAnnotation and place it elsewhere in the page's annotation array, use the version of the constructor that takes an array position.

### FreeTextAnnotation

```cpp
datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::FreeTextAnnotation(Page &page, const Rect &rect, const std::string &default_appearance, int add_after)
```

*constructor*

**Parameters**

- `page` ([`Page &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Page.md)): The page to which the FreeTextAnnotation is added.
- `rect` ([`const Rect &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/struct/Rect.md)): A rectangle specifying the annotation's bounds, specified in user space coordinates.
- `default_appearance` (`const std::string &`): The default appearance string to be used in formatting the text.
- `add_after` (`int`)

Create a new FreeTextAnnotation at the end of a page's annotation array. To create a FreeTextAnnotation and place it elsewhere in the page's annotation array, use the version of the constructor that takes an array position.

### ~FreeTextAnnotation

```cpp
datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::~FreeTextAnnotation() override
```

*destructor*

## Methods

### clear_interior_color

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::clear_interior_color()
```

**Returns:** `void`

Clear the interior color.

### generate_appearance

```cpp
virtual std::unique_ptr< Form > datalogics_interface::Annotation::generate_appearance() const
```

**Returns:** [`std::unique_ptr< Form >`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Form.md)

A Form representing the visual appearance, or null if the appearance could not be generated.

Generate a new appearance stream with the current annotation properties.

The resulting Form can then be used to set the annotation's appearance, such as by calling SetNormalAppearance.

### get_annotation_feature_level

```cpp
virtual double datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_annotation_feature_level() const
```

**Returns:** `double`

The minimum PDF version level (e.g. 1.3, 1.4, or 1.5).

The minimum PDF version necessary to support the features used in this annotation.

### get_border_dash_pattern

```cpp
std::vector< double > datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_border_dash_pattern() const
```

**Returns:** `std::vector< double >`

An array defining a pattern of dashes and gaps to be used in drawing a dashed border (border style D).

The dash array is a series of numbers that specify the lengths of alternating dashes and gaps. Lengths must be nonnegative, and are expressed in user space units.

Default value is [3]

### get_border_style

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_border_style() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

The border style.

Can be one of: S - Solid D - Dashed. The dash pattern is specified as an array (see DashPattern) B - Beveled I - Inset U - Underline Other border styles may be defined in the future. Default is "S"

### get_border_style_width

```cpp
double datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_border_style_width() const
```

**Returns:** `double`

The border width in points.

If this value is 0, no border is drawn. The default is 1.0.

### get_color

```cpp
Color datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_color() const
```

**Returns:** [`Color`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md)

The annotation's color.

The color of the annotation.

### get_contents

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_contents() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

The annotation's text contents.

The text contents of the annotation.

The text to be displayed for the annotation or, if this type of annotation does not display text, an alternate description of the annotation's contents in human-readable form.

### get_default_appearance

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_default_appearance() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

The default appearance string to be used in formatting the text.

### get_flags

```cpp
AnnotationFlags datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_flags() const
```

**Returns:** [`AnnotationFlags`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/enum/AnnotationFlags.md)

The annotation's flags.

The flags for the annotation.

### get_font_face

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_font_face() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

current Font face

Get Font face for the text

### get_font_size

```cpp
double datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_font_size() const
```

**Returns:** `double`

current font size

Get font size for the text;

### get_interior_color

```cpp
std::unique_ptr< Color > datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_interior_color() const
```

**Returns:** [`std::unique_ptr< Color >`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md)

The interior fill color, or null if no interior color is set.

The interior color with which to fill the annotation's rectangle or circle.

The color of the border itself can be retrieved from Annotation.Color.

### get_normal_appearance

```cpp
std::unique_ptr< Form > datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_normal_appearance() const
```

**Returns:** [`std::unique_ptr< Form >`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Form.md)

A Form representing the annotation's normal appearance, or null if no normal appearance has been set.

The normal appearance of the annotation, represented as a Form XObject.

### get_opacity

```cpp
double datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_opacity() const
```

**Returns:** `double`

The opacity value for this annotation.

The constant opacity value used in painting a Markup annotation.

Opacity is a range from 0.0 (fully transparent) to 1.0 (fully opaque).

### get_quadding

```cpp
HorizontalAlignment datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_quadding() const
```

**Returns:** [`HorizontalAlignment`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/enum/HorizontalAlignment.md)

A code specifiying the form of quadding (justification) to be used in displaying the annotation's text.

### get_rect

```cpp
Rect datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_rect() const
```

**Returns:** [`Rect`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/struct/Rect.md)

The annotation's bounding rectangle in user space coordinates.

The size and location of the annotation on its page.

### get_subtype

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_subtype() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

The subtype string (e.g. "Circle", "Square", "Line").

The annotation's subtype.

### get_text_color

```cpp
Color datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::get_text_color() const
```

**Returns:** [`Color`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md)

color Freetext Annotation's text

The text color which used for drawing text

### get_title

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::Annotation::get_title() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

The title string.

The title of the annotation.

### has_rich_text_data

```cpp
bool datalogics_interface::Annotation::has_rich_text_data() const
```

**Returns:** `bool`

true if the annotation contains Rich Text String content.

Checks the annotation for Rich Text String content (PDFReference 1.7 Section 8.6.2). Annotations that contain Rich Text String content and do not have a normal appearance set will not be visible when rendering the page.

### operator==

```cpp
bool datalogics_interface::Annotation::operator==(const Annotation &other) const
```

**Parameters**

- `other` ([`const Annotation &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Annotation.md)): The annotation to compare with this annotation.

**Returns:** `bool`

true if the two annotations are equal.

Test annotations for equality (if they are the same annotation).

### set_annotation_feature_level

```cpp
virtual void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_annotation_feature_level(double level)
```

**Parameters**

- `level` (`double`): The target PDF version level. Features requiring a higher version will be removed.

**Returns:** `void`

Removes features not supported in the supplied version number.

### set_border_dash_pattern

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_border_dash_pattern(const std::vector< double > &pattern)
```

**Parameters**

- `pattern` (`const std::vector< double > &`): the border style dash pattern

**Returns:** `void`

### set_border_style

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_border_style(const std::string &style)
```

**Parameters**

- `style` (`const std::string &`): the border style

**Returns:** `void`

### set_border_style_width

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_border_style_width(double width)
```

**Parameters**

- `width` (`double`): the border style width

**Returns:** `void`

### set_color

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_color(const Color &color)
```

**Parameters**

- `color` ([`const Color &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md)): The new color to set.

**Returns:** `void`

The color of the annotation.

### set_contents

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_contents(const std::string &contents)
```

**Parameters**

- `contents` (`const std::string &`): The new text contents.

**Returns:** `void`

The text contents of the annotation.

The text to be displayed for the annotation or, if this type of annotation does not display text, an alternate description of the annotation's contents in human-readable form.

### set_default_appearance

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_default_appearance(const std::string &da)
```

**Parameters**

- `da` (`const std::string &`)

**Returns:** `void`

The default appearance string to be used in formatting the text.

### set_flags

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_flags(AnnotationFlags flags)
```

**Parameters**

- `flags` ([`AnnotationFlags`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/enum/AnnotationFlags.md)): The new annotation flags to set.

**Returns:** `void`

The flags for the annotation.

### set_font_face

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_font_face(const std::string &name)
```

**Parameters**

- `name` (`const std::string &`): font face for the text

**Returns:** `void`

Set Font face for the text

### set_font_size

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_font_size(double size)
```

**Parameters**

- `size` (`double`): font size for text

**Returns:** `void`

Set font size for text

### set_interior_color

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_interior_color(const Color &color)
```

**Parameters**

- `color` ([`const Color &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md)): The new interior fill color. Pass null to remove the interior color.

**Returns:** `void`

The interior color with which to fill the annotation's rectangle or circle.

Only RGB colors are allowed.

The color of the border itself can be retrieved from Annotation.Color.

### set_normal_appearance

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_normal_appearance(Form &form)
```

**Parameters**

- `form` ([`Form &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Form.md)): The Form to use as the annotation's normal appearance.

**Returns:** `void`

The normal appearance of the annotation, represented as a Form XObject.

### set_opacity

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_opacity(double opacity)
```

**Parameters**

- `opacity` (`double`): The new opacity value to set.

**Returns:** `void`

The constant opacity value used in painting a Markup annotation.

Opacity is a range from 0.0 (fully transparent) to 1.0 (fully opaque).

### set_quadding

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_quadding(HorizontalAlignment quadding)
```

**Parameters**

- `quadding` ([`HorizontalAlignment`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/enum/HorizontalAlignment.md)): a code specifiying the form of quadding (justification) to be used in displaying the annotation's text

**Returns:** `void`

A code specifiying the form of quadding (justification) to be used in displaying the annotation's text.

### set_rect

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_rect(const Rect &rect)
```

**Parameters**

- `rect` ([`const Rect &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/struct/Rect.md)): The new bounding rectangle in user space coordinates.

**Returns:** `void`

The size and location of the annotation on its page.

### set_text_color

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::FreeTextAnnotation::set_text_color(const Color &color)
```

**Parameters**

- `color` ([`const Color &`](https://docs.datalogics.com/apdfl21/ModernCPP/21.4.0/class/Color.md)): the text color which used for drawing text

**Returns:** `void`

The text color which used for drawing text

### set_title

```cpp
void datalogics_interface::Annotation::set_title(const std::string &title)
```

**Parameters**

- `title` (`const std::string &`): The new title string.

**Returns:** `void`

The title of the annotation.

### to_string

```cpp
std::string datalogics_interface::Annotation::to_string() const
```

**Returns:** `std::string`

A string describing this annotation, including its type and rectangle.

Returns a string representation of this annotation.

### try_as

```cpp
T * datalogics_interface::Annotation::try_as()
```

**Parameters**

- (unnamed) (`typename T`)

**Returns:** `T *`

Attempt to downcast this annotation to a derived type. Returns a pointer to the derived type, or nullptr if the type doesn't match.

### try_as

```cpp
const T * datalogics_interface::Annotation::try_as() const
```

**Parameters**

- (unnamed) (`typename T`)

**Returns:** `const T *`

Const overload of try_as(). Returns a const pointer, or nullptr.